If you are not familiar with my blog — well, hello — the pale girl I refer to in the title is me. My name is Katya, and I cover myself in sunscreen because if I don’t do so, I immediately get sunburned.
Having such a light skin tone, I need to protect myself all the time as I don’t want to get burned and see sun-related premature signs of aging.
In addition to being pale as a sheet of paper, I have another problem: acne-prone skin, so I have to be very careful with the products I pick. The good news is that I tested and found the best of the best sunscreens for pale skin. And I’m happy to share my beauty discoveries with you.
But before we begin, let me point out that I don’t have just one or two products to share. Ideally, you will have a sunscreen wardrobe where you pick and choose SPF level and finish that works the best for your needs.
Below, I’m sharing my go-to sunscreen products for both vacation and every day, all suitable for combo, acne-prone skin.
Face Sunscreens
To be honest, I have an entire shelf dedicated to face sunscreens at home. I use different ones with different moisturizers and foundations. But on my latest vacation, I picked just two. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin SPF 60 Dry-Touch Sunscreen and SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical Defence Sunscreen SPF 50.
The La Roche-Posay sunscreen is designed for acne-prone skin and is ideal for outdoor activities as it dries matte and doesn’t move at all. I usually wear this product on the beach or while jogging outdoors. I also love it for the mattifying finish. Pick it if you want to look shine-free on the beach!
If I’m wearing a tinted moisturizer or a foundation, I switch to the SkinCeuticals formula. It also dries matte, but your foundation doesn’t look cakey or too dry.
This sunscreen also happened to be one of my favorite formulas for the days when I’m not on vacation but in New York. It absorbs fast, doesn’t clog pores or cause irritations. I can’t even count how many of these jars I’ve used — it’s just so good!
Body Sunscreens
While on vacation, I set-up an alarm on my phone. That way, I know to re-apply sunscreen every two hours (if you use SPF 50).
Over the latest trip to Tulum, I discovered Paula’s Choice Sun Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 50, and now I’m hooked on it. The product features the gentlest non-sticky formula. It dries off in a matter of seconds and doesn’t leave annoying white marks.
After a few days on the sun, I love switching to Australian Gold SPF Spray Gel SPF 30 with Instant Bronzer. It smells heavenly and helps you to achieve a slightly bronzed skin that looks natural and radiant. I use the same product while walking the streets of New York with bare legs. Even the palest girls could benefit from a little tint on their legs.
Specialty Sun Products
If you have any scars or moles on your skin, you might need a little extra sunscreen to cover these areas. Otherwise, being in the sun can lead to developing all sorts of sunspots and discolorations.
To cover such areas, I apply an extra layer of stick sunscreen such as Derma E Natural Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30. For instance, I have a scar on my leg and a few bigger birthmarks on my back. So after my body sunscreen is on, I’ll give a swipe of this SPF stick for extra protection.
Another product to have on hand, especially while on vacation, is St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist. Oftentimes, people apply SPF 50 on their faces and pick lower sunscreen protection levels for their bodies. As a result, their look is much lighter than the frame.
To fix such a situation, spray this bronzing face mist on bare skin. You can also spritz it on top of the foundation to achieve a bronzed look. You can do it while on the beach, as the product smells so beautifully that it reminds a lightweight fragrance.
After-Sun Care
Hopefully, with all the products mentioned above, you’ll be completely protected from the sun and don’t need any product recommendations for when you get sunburned.
But if you need a suggestion for a great body moisturizer for your after-sun days, my favorite is Sun Bun Cool Down Soothing Aloe Lotion. It smells fantastic, contains Vitamin E that hydrates your skin, and Aloe Vera that calms down your skin.
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There you have it: a complete guide to which products I took on my vacation to Tulum. I hope this mini-guide was helpful. Please let me know in the comments if you’d like to hear more about face sunscreens. Thanks for stopping by, and don’t forget to always re-apply your sunscreen!
